Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa – AN INTIMATE RESORT OF LUXURY

The Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort and Spa is on the main island of Mahé. It’s a short and picturesque drive from Seychelles International Airport, through the bustling town of Victoria and out the other side on the coastal road to where the hotel is located at Beau Vallon Bay.

I always judge a hotel by its welcome and the Hilton scores highly for that.   It’s 33 degrees and humid, a cold lemon-scented towel is brought over and a glass of chilled bubbly is very welcome as I check-in for my two night stay in one of the new Grand Oceanview Pool Villas.  It’s truly spectacular; the interior is fresh, modern and luxurious.

A fabulous king-sized bed overlooks the beautiful blue Indian Ocean with a view of Silhouette Island in the distance.  No wonder this place inspired Ian Fleming to write the novel ‘For Your Eyes Only.’

There’s an awesome Jacuzzi bath perfectly placed to relax overlooking the sea, a fabulous shower with no panels, but the water seems to disappear without flooding the bathroom, two large double sinks and soft robes and slippers to unwind in.

The fridge is well-stocked and there is a lovely selection of tea and a Nespresso coffee machine. Outside there is spacious decking with two sun loungers by the private pool.  This is all heavenly and perfect for those who want privacy and seclusion.  The pool is large enough to have a swim or just luxuriate in overlooking the ocean watching the yachts sail by.

The Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort is well known for its spa and the Eforea Spa offers a range of interesting and restorative treatments from Healing Earth facials to reflexology. My therapist Phim is Thai, so I opted for her speciality – an aromatherapy back massage, which was just perfect after the flight from London Heathrow, via Dubai to Mahé.  Look out for their SPA Express Menu, which gives 30 minute treatments which you can top up with a 15 minute welcome massage.

For those not into pampering, the hotel has an excellent gym, fully air conditioned with a great selection of equipment and weights. Unsurprisingly this area of the hotel wasn’t busy, but at least you have the option to keep fit if you have the desire!

After get acquainted with my surroundings, I head up to the Ocean View Bar (OVB) for a pre-dinner cocktail. It’s a fabulous buzzy area with inside and outside seating overlooking the spectacular views of the sun setting over the ocean.  La Mezcla Band is busy setting up for the evening’s singing entertainment.

The OVB bar is a fun place to hang out, the Seychellois bar staff are happy and friendly and they even had a go at making me a ‘Pornstar Rumtini’ cocktail, which was excellent and now hopefully on their drinks list!

There are two restaurants to choose from. Les Cocotiers features grilled meat, fish and seafood specialities with a Creole twist.  The head chef Eddie Sharkey prepared a seafood feast of fishcakes, local Red Snapper and Job Fish, which is delicious.  Originally from Glasgow, Eddie has been working for Hilton for thirty years and knows a thing or two about good food!  He has made it a priority to work with local farmers and producers in the Seychelles.

The Hilltop Restaurant serves breakfast and is also the place to head to if you fancy one of their signature buffets for dinner. The Creole Buffet was the theme for the night I was there and it gave me the perfect opportunity to try the local flavours. There’s an abundance of fare from Northolme Laska soup, smoked marlin, local black pudding,  papaya chutney, a red snapper fish, all types of meat and vegetable curries, fresh vegetables and an array of traditional Creole puddings, including mango mousse, vanilla and passion fruit crème brûlée  and coconut nougat.

With my snorkelling gear packed I was advised that the swimming and the amount of tropical fish to be seen was very good.   It was indeed. The coral reef by the hotel is fantastic and the waters are very safe to swim in.  The beach area is not expansive; however there are lots of places to sunbathe on the path above the beach or by the infinity pool.  The hotel does provide a shuttle bus to Beau Vallon beach where you can hire jet skis and canoes.

The best place to relax for sunbathing is in your our own luxurious villa, which is a haven of indulgence! I simply could not wait to go to sleep in my beautiful bedroom and wake up with the sapphire ocean sparkling through the window! And the best surprise… a rainbow!

Kate was a guest of Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa and Visit Seychelles. Thank you.

For more information about holidaying and island hopping in the Seychelles visit http://www.seychelles.travel

Holiday Cost:

Turquoise Holidays offers a 7 night stay (for the price of 5) in a King Hillside Villa at Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa from £1799 per person including breakfast, transfers by private car and international flights from the UK to Mahe with Etihad Airways.  To book call 01494 678400, visit turquoiseholidays.co.uk or email: enquiries@turquoiseholidays.co.uk

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Seyexclusive offers Turquoise Holidays offers a 7 night stay (for the price of 5) in a King Hillside Villa at Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa from £1599 per person including breakfast, transfers by private car and international flights from the UK to Mahe with Etihad Airways.  To book call 0844 800 9722, visit http://www.seyexclusive.com or email: christine@seyexclusive.com

Enjoy xx